Anti-Taliban forces in Afghanistan have asked the international community not to recognise the new government announced by the Islamists on Tuesday.

The interim cabinet – which has no women, and consists entirely of Taliban leaders or their associates – has also been criticised by the US.

Fighters opposing the Taliban in the Panjshir province said the new government was “illegal”.

The US expressed concern at figures linked to attacks on US forces.

The interim cabinet is led by Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, who is on a UN blacklist. Another figure, Sirajuddin Haqqani, is wanted by the American FBI.

The National Resistance Front (NRF) said it considered the announcement of the Taliban’s caretaker cabinet “a clear sign of the group’s enmity with the Afghan people”.

The Taliban insist they have now defeated the NRF in the Panjshir Valley north of Kabul, but NRF leaders say they are still fighting.

In a statement, the US state department said it was concerned by the “affiliations and track records of some of the individuals”.

The statement said Washington would “continue to hold the Taliban to their commitments” to allow safe passage for foreign nationals and Afghans with travel documents, “including permitting flights currently ready to fly out of Afghanistan”.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is to hold a virtual meeting of 20 Western nations to co-ordinate a set of conditions for engagement with the Taliban government.

The Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in a sweeping offensive more than three weeks ago. It now faces many tough challenges in the conflict-torn country, including stabilising the economy and gaining international recognition.

On Wednesday dozens of women marched in Kabul and in the province of Badakhshan, saying they would not accept a government without women.

The Taliban deny using violence against the demonstrations. They say protesters need permission to march and should not use abusive language.

Pakistan also denies any role in Afghanistan.

culled from BBC NEWS